HOW TO DEVELOPDYNAMIC SPEED
& ACCELERATION
Jim Kielbaso MS, CSCSTotal Performance
Training Centers
Big Force+
Right Direction+
Minimal TimeRun Faster
* Body Comp* Sport-Specific Conditioning* Sport-Specific Movements* Stiffness* Flexibility/Mobility
Speed Science JB Morin, et al (2011) – Definitively showed that
force application technique and the orientation of the force were more important than the total amount of force applied. Horizontal force application was found to be correlated to sprinting speed, but vertical force and total force were NOT.
Weyand, et al (2014) – Elite sprinters run differently and have a different force orientation than other runners. Ground contact time, leg speed and GRF are only about 30% greater for elite sprinters compared to normal people, but their speed is 80% greater.
Overload & Specificity Force = Strength Training Power = Plyometrics & Explosive
Work Speed Strength – Weighted
Movements Force Orientation –
Mechanics/Technique Possibly the most important….and most
often ignored….trainable attribute.
Applying Physics....zzzzzz
Impulse: average force x time the force is applied = change of momentum of the system
Scalar: Has Magnitude
Vector: Has Magnitude & Direction
Creating Horizontal Power Great sprinters cover 1.5 meters on 1st
step Foot height is only 12-30 centimeters on
1st step Ground contact time is .17 sec on 1st
step compared to .08 sec at max velocity
Every step will have both braking and propulsion – the goal is to minimize braking and maximize propulsion.
What to Look For
Teaching Cues & Progression
1st step Foot poppers Wall drills Starting stance Push, not step
2nd step Wait to finish the
first Drive knee
forward Push backward
Weighted Sleds 15-20% BW
Shown to improve acceleration speed (Alcaraz, et al, Harrison, et al, West et al, Cottle et al, Bolger et al)
45-50% BW Shown to improve
horizontal force strategies (Kawamori, et al)
Short distances Long rest periods
Teach Athletes How to Move
Train mechanics, power & acceleration early in the workout
Focus on quality – both mechanics and intensity
Lots of feedback Create engrams Start young – have
fun